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In memoriam - Dr. Gary Ablett

April 6, 2010

Dr. Gary Ablett, soybean researcher and professor at OAC’s Ridgetown Campus, passed away on April 4, after a six-month battle with brain cancer.

Ablett began his research and teaching career at Ridgetown in 1979, where he initiated a public soybean breeding program that would deliver more than 50 new soybean varieties for Ontario agriculture. 

A gifted teacher and administrator, he served as chair of OAC’s Department of Plant Agriculture as well as director at the Ridgetown Campus.

“Gary was a talented crop scientist, a celebrated research leader, and true friend of agriculture,” said Rob Gordon, dean of OAC. “He was well known throughout the University community and admired by all who had the privilege to work with him.”

Visitation will be Thursday, April 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Blenheim Community Funeral Home, 60 Stanley Street, Blenheim.

Campus flags will be at half-mast on Friday, April 9 to mark the memorial service, to be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Rudy H. Brown Rural Development Centre on the Ridgetown Campus. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations to the Ridgetown Campus Agri-Food Foundation or the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada (www.braintumour.ca).